Signal holders



Aug. 21, 1956 D. A. GUNN x-:TAL

SIGNAL HOLDER S Original Filed May 6, 1952 FIG. 2

FIG!

FIG

62 al I nventors CARL F. WOLTERS AND Gt meg United States Patent O SIGNAL HOLDERS Donald A. Gunn, Kenmore, N. Y., and Carl F. Wolters,

New Canaan, Conn., as'signors to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 6, 1952, Serial No. 286,368, now Patent No. 2,732,843, dated January 31, 1956. Divided and this application June 13, 1955, Serial No. 515,044

1 Claim. (Cl. 129-16.7)

This invention relates generally to signaling devices and in particular to a visible index signaling device having a plurality of individually 'operable signals.

This application is a division of application Serial Number 286,368, led May 6, 1952, now Patent No. 2,732,843 for Improvements in Signal Holders.

The invention comprises a signal holding strip formed from a sheet of transparent plastic material and having a marginal portion adapted for insertion under the transparent sheath of a conventional visible index card holder, overlaying the indexing margin of a visible index card in the holder. The signal strip is formed with a rearwardly folded portion on the lower edge that is adapted to lower horizontal margin of an index card to retain the signaling device on said visible index card holder. The signal strip may be shorter than the card index margin or may overlay the entire margin. When the former is the case, the signal strip is longitudinally slidable along the indexing margin for signaling cooperation with selected portions thereof.

A a plurality of signals are disposed in slidable transverse relation in said strip and are arranged to cooperate with the marginal indexing portions of the visible index card to provide signals readily discernable without movement of the cards. Each signal is preferably formed from transparent colored plastic material and is so assembled to the strip as to present an exposed portion that is engageable by a finger, pencil, stylus or the like for ease of movement of the signal to and from the visible index card margin. This transverse signal movement is utilized to visibly signal the relative status of data associated therewith.

The invention provides a signal holding strip formed from a sheet of transparent plastic material, having a pair of intermediate longitudinally extending portions formed with reverse bends of substantially S-shape, with a plurality of aligned pairs of slots formed in the return bend portions for slidably receiving the signals in adjacent relation, arranged so that alternate signals extend through slots in one portion of the bend structure, while intermediate signals extend through the other portions of the bend structure. By alternating the position of the pairs of slots in the bend structure of the strip, the signals can be mounted so that their adjacent edges are arranged in close adjacent relation. The signals extend in transverse relation across the strip for signaling cooperation with the visible margin of a card in one position thereof in the supporting strip.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an embodiment of the invention disposed in signaling relation on a visible index card.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along line 5 5 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the signal holding strip of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l in perforated blank form prior to folding.

2,759,479 Patented Aug. 21, k19536 ICC Fig. 4 is a top view of the signal holding strip blank after folding with a portion of the top fold broken away.

The invention is illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive, wherein signaling assembly 40 is disposed on the lower horizontal margin of visible index card 16 with the lower portion secured in transparent sheath 14. Signaling assembly 40 comprises a signal holding strip 42, as shown in Fig. 3, preferably of transparent plastic material and a plurality of signals 62, 62a. Strip 42 is perforated with two rows of parallel alternately spaced signal guiding slots 44, 46, and two rows of parallel alternately spaced signal guiding slots 48, 50 complementally offset from rows 44, 46 on the opposite side of transverse slots 60. It can readily be seen that the pairs of slots 44, 48 and 46, 50 are in a cooperating, signal guiding relationship, with signals 62 and 62a respectively, to alternate successive transverse slots 60. Slots 44, 46, 48 and 50 are cut to substantially the same width as signals 62, 62a for sliding movement of the signals in the slots. Shoulders 44a, 48a and 46a, 50a of respective slots 44, 48 and 46, 50, guide the abutting parallel sides of signals 62, 62a in close adjacent relation. Strip 42, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 2, is formed to provide a forwardly folded marginal portion 52 and an S-shaped fold 54 with rows of slots 44 and 46 disposed in the folds of the S. A reverse S- shaped fold 56 is formed in a like manner with rows of slots 48 and 50 disposed in the folds. A ilat portion of strip 42, substantially defined by rows 46 and 48, intermediate of S-shaped folds 54 and 56, contains transverse slots 60. The lower horizontal margin of strip 42 is formed with rearwardly folded portion 58. S-shaped fold 54 is formed with slots 44 at the apex of the inner curve and slots 46 at the crest of the outer curve. S- shaped fold 56 is formed with slots 48 along the crest of the outer curve and slots 50 at the apex of the inner curve.

Signals 62 and 62a are insertable in the respective pairs of cooperating slots 44, 48 and 46, 50 respectively. Since slots 44, 48 and 46, 50 are not in the same plane, signals 62, 62a are manually distorted for the purpose of insertion into said slots and after insertion, being of flexible material, are sufficiently resilient to accommodate for the progressive distortion in signaling movement.

When inserted in a pair of complemental slots 44, 48, one end of signal 62 projects from the apex of S-shaped fold 54 and the other end projects from the crest of S- shaped fold 56, as shown in Fig. 2. Conversely, one end of each signal 62a projects from a slot 46 in the crest of S-shaped fold 54 and the opposite end projects through a slot 50 disposed in the apex of S-shaped fold 56. Each signal is further provided with an aperture 64 to receive a pencil or other pointed instrument used in moving the signals. The sliding movement of signals 62, 62a is limited at one end by fold 62a of guide and retaining section 52 and at the other end by sheath 14. Accordingly, slots 60 perform solely as means to permit access to apertures 64.

The bi-planar disposition of signal assembly 40 permits the offsetting of adjacent slots 44, 46 and analogously slots 48, 50 to provide a maximum of material between the ends of adjacent slots without superlluous space between signals. As shown in Fig. 2, signals 62 are disposed in their uppermost or non-signaling positions. One of the signals designated as 62a is illustrated in its lowermost or signaling position.

The signal holders shown and described above are mounted in the card holder 10 in front of the lower visible margin of the index card 16 so that one marginal portion of the signal holder will be engaged in the sheath over the visible margin of the index card. The remainder of the signal holder will extend above the sheath as shown in the drawings where access is provided to the central portion of each signal so that it may be engaged manually or with the use of an implement and manually moved in the holder between its opposite limits of movement. When moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the lower end of a signal 62 or 62a will lie over the visible margin of the index card for cooperative signaling purposes. These signals are selectively slidable into either signaling position or inoperative position at the upper limit of movement so as to give one or more signaling indications. Each signal may give an independent signaling indication or an arrangement may be made wherein the signals cooperate in their signaling or non-signaling positions according to the systems selected. The signal holder may be made of any length to include any desired number of slidable signals in adjacent relation. For example, the signal holder may extend entirely across index card 16 and have a series of signals adapted to be moved into signaling position overlying the entire margin of the index card. Where the signal holder is shorter than the length of the visible margin of the index card, the holder may be positioned at any location along the margin of the card for a desired signaling cooperation therewith.

The invention claimed is:

A signaling device adapted for use with a visible index card and card holder, comprising a susbtantially rectangular signal holding strip having a lip formed along one margin thereof for slidably securing said strip to the visible margin of said index card, a signal retaining section formed from the opposite margin of said strip, a pair of complemental S-shaped curves formed in the face of said strip, plural complementally aligned pairs of slots horizontally perforated in said strip with one each of said pairs of slots disposed on the apex of one S- shaped curve the complemental slot in each pair disposed in the crest of the other S-shaped curve, plural vertical slots perforated in said strip, and a plurality of signals, each being mounted 'in a complemental pair of horizontal slots and adapted for manual movement through a related vertical slot for movement into and out of signaling relation with the visible index margin of said index card.

No references cited. 

